Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-16
JOHN BROWN.
REMIHIscEKCEs BY Bx-COHGREssMAH
Eli TEAYHR.
The Old Fanatics Pleas for Obtaining
koney-The Murders He Com
mitted-His Pixies.
GEx-congrcssman Ell Thayer in the Boston


These writers say, on page
iii: "In association, habit, language,
and conduct he was clean, but coarse (;
honest, bat rude" Two circumstances,
however, indicate that he was practi-
cling a deception upon the committees
and the public. He entered into a
contract with a blacksmith in Collins
vile, Conn, to manufacture for him
LEGO pixies Of a certain pattern to
be completed in ninety days,
| and paid $3.50 on the contract. There
is no record that he mentioned
this matter to any committee. His pro-
posed Kansas minute men were only
leo in number, and the pixies could not
be for them. His explanation to the
blacksmith that they would be a good
weapon Of defence for Kansas settlers
was clearly subterfuge. These pixies,
ordered about March %, 1851 We're
without doubt intended for his Virginia
invasion, and, in fact, the identical lot,
finished after long delay, under the
same contract, were shipped to him in
September, 1859, and were actually
used III the Harper's Ferry at
tempt. The other circumstance i
that about the time of his contract for
the pixies, he also, without the know
ledge of committees or friends, engaged
a worthless adventurer named Forbes
to 20 West and give military instruc-
tons to his company measure neither
useful nor practicable for KANSAS de-
fence. These two acts may be taken as
the first preparation for Harper's Ferry.
These are constructive lies. But John
| Brown made use q many others IN his
preparation for the Virginia raid, which
we're in novay doubtful or equiyocal.
]. lie came to me in Worcester to
solicit a contribution of arms tor the
defence Of some Kansas settlements,
which be said lie knew were soon to be
attacked 10y parties already organized
i'm Missouri for that purpose. Not
doubling his word / gave him all the
arms 7 had, in value about 500.
.. Under the same false pretence he
secured another contribution from
Ethan Allen 8 Co., manufacturers of
arms in this city. These arms also were
never taken to Kansas, but were cap
turcd at Harpers Ferry.
3. Before his attack upon the United
States Arsenal he spent several weeks
in Virginia. he pretended 10 be Il
mineralogst, and went a5out with a
hammer breaking off the corners Of
rocks. Under the preteXt OF seeking
for copper he found opportunities for
irving to cnlis, slaves in his little rebel
lion. The Representative in Congress
from the Harper's Ferry district gave
me these facts
!. Under the same false pretence OF
aiding the settlers in Kansas he pro-
cured funds from several New York
merchants. enc Of whom, says that he
gave him $50.
+. In 1853 he made n raid into Mis-
sculi, murdered Mr. Crews, poaceablo
old farmer, and took away eleven slaves,
with about : 900 worth of oxen, mules,
wagons, harness, saddles, @l other
property. IS soon as he had got out
side Of the State he sent agents in all
directions to solicit aid to get the
eleven negroes to Canada. He was
from December to April getting them
through. This slow movement was
doubtless for the purpose Of prolong-
ing as much as possible the time for his
agents to procure funds. His plumber
and his collections went, probably, to
increase his Harper's Ferry fund.
6. He often asserted that in the above
raid he liberated several slaves without
bloodshed and without the use OF vea-
rOns. 1t is proved that Mr.. Crews was
killed in that raid.
7. He repeatedly said that he was not
present ut the Poltawatomie midnight
massacre. It is proved that h was
present rs commander OF the assassins.
8. lie repeatedly affirmed that he
took no part in those murders, though
be approved Of them. 1t Is proved
that the first unarmed victim, Mr..
Doyle, was killed by Browns own
band. There is abundant other proof
that in all his murders and robberies,
whether in Kansas, Missouri, or Vir-
cinia, his creed was that "tho end JUS
tiles the means, and that lying in his
case WAS a holy vocation. Does the
expression "honcst but rude truth
fully describe John Brown? .
AT that tine 1559)I was serving my
second term in Congress and had every
opportunity to know the minds OF
members regarding John Browns raid.
There was not one member OF the
House Of Representatives who consi-
derod his punishment unjust. A very
few, and was one of them, thought it
inlpolitic, and said that it would have
been better to put the criminal in a
madhouse for life. This method would
have made ridiculous any attempts
Of the Garrison disunioniSis to
consecrate "old Brown" either az
"maItyr" or a saint. Had
any Republican member Of Congress
defended the course of the invader AMI
murderer or denounced the courts OF
Virginia for properly Furnishing him
Capitally, such q Republican would
have been expelled from the plrty
without notice or delay. Henry VIII
son was one Of the most radical Of the
Republicans, but he said in Boston,
otter Browns raid and before hiseXecu
ton, in words more emphatic than ele-
CANT: "Jchn Brown is a id fool"
Later he said in the United States
Senate "To the allegation that Massa-
chusetts sympathized with John
Browns invasion of Virginia and had
elected q Governor who Endorsed it, 1
wish TO interpose an emphatic denial.
Such charge Is a libel upon the Repub-
lican party, upon the State of Massa-
chusetts, and upon her Governor.
Only few months after Browns exc
cuhon the National Republican Con-
vention met in Chicago to nominate a
candidate for President. That conven-
ton passed unanimously a resolution
denouncing the EARNED invasion of
State, under whatever pretence, as one
Ct the gravest of crimes" Every
stump.speaker for Lincoln in the can
vass denounced the John Brown raid
unsparngly and necessarily. Had
there been any doubt upon this subject
the Republican party could not have
carried a single State, and probably |
not single town, in all the northern
States.
The active men at that time in urging |
the claims Of John Brown as a "saint
were the son,a onas vvbO al fbp South